Chapter 87 I Treat You as My Brother
The scene was bizarre.
Zhao Jie stared solemnly at the princess, then glanced at Xia Feng. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but no words came out.
The absurdity of the moment weighed on him.
The prince was dead. The princess had acknowledged this young man as her master. So what did that make Zhao Jie? Was he expected to swear allegiance to a new master now?
Whoosh—
Before he could untangle his thoughts, a sharp sound cut through the air. He turned and saw the lifeless hands of the Divine Evil Society members, a faint thread of energy retreating into the depths of the forest before vanishing entirely.
"!!!"
Damn it! Zhao Jie snapped back to reality and immediately gave chase. To hell with a new master! He'd already reached the fourth level, and with the prince dead, the contract was null and void. If he didn't flee now, when would he ever get another chance?
In a flash, Zhao Jie was gone, leaving his subordinates to exchange bewildered glances before their expressions twisted in panic.
"Run!"
But without their two fourth-level fighters, escape was impossible. Surrounded by the Holy Department, they soon surrendered without resistance.
Over the next few hours, the military took control of Pingshan Hospital. In the underground prison, they discovered countless tortured test subjects—and Wei Shutong, unconscious, his legs severed.
By dawn the next day, the Chief Executive of District 51 received a confidential dispatch from the commander of the Imperial Holy Department and the Court Council.
Every asset under the Hydrangea Family's name—including but not limited to the Six-Tails Society—was seized and dissolved. Seventy-nine direct relatives were subjected to rigorous investigation, their vast fortunes frozen. Twenty-three were executed in secret, nineteen exiled to the southern border, and the remaining thirty-seven taken to the Court's First District for further interrogation.
The Hydrangea Family's betrayal—colluding with an evil cult and selling out the empire's interests—was brought to a close. No other noble houses were implicated.
"My Lady Princess, we have arrived at Hydrangea Manor."
The middle-aged butler, clad in an immaculate tuxedo, opened the car door and bowed in invitation.
The classical European manor stood nestled within lush woodlands. Its lime-washed walls were draped with lavender hydrangeas, the blossoms climbing all the way up to the towering gate pillars adorned with intricate carvings.
Xia Feng stepped out of the car and gazed up at the ancient, enigmatic estate before him. For a moment, he was lost in thought.
The last time he'd rushed here was to seek Mu Qingtong for strength synchronization. He never imagined that, in just a month, he'd return as the manor's new master.
Tap—
High heels clicked against the ground. Yue Hongli, resplendent in an elegant Shenhuang gown, wore a crimson veil hat pinned to her raven-black hair. Her left arm looped through Xia Feng's as they strolled leisurely into the manor.
They passed through the corridor, past the towering gold-trimmed double doors, and into the dazzling gilded hall.
Twenty maids of varying appearances stood in two neat rows, bowing in unison as they chimed crisply, "My Lady Princess."
After a pause, the head maid flicked her gaze to Xia Feng beside the princess. Pressing her lips together, she signaled the others with a glance.
"Mr. Xia, welcome home." They bowed again.
"..."
Though the Hydrangea Family had been purged following the prince's death, the manor itself—and its staff—remained untouched. Now, it belonged to the princess.
In addition, numerous properties remained unconfiscated—including estates in the 50th, 41st, 23rd, 2nd, and 1st districts. A total of nine legal holdings (manors, villas, etc.) were inherited by the princess.
She was now a truly wealthy widow.
Though the Hydrangea Family existed in name only, her status as a widow had become notorious throughout District 51.
After all, news of the prince's treason had exploded across the internet, and a woman of her beauty naturally drew intense scrutiny.
As the saying goes, behind every successful widow lies a mysterious man.
Despite the Holy Ministry's efforts to suppress the details of the incident, rumors ran wild online. Whispers spread that the prince had barely died before the princess was already entangled with an 18-year-old student—a scandal both enviable and shameless!
Following the previous night's battle, the Holy Ministry briefly questioned Xia Feng and the princess.
When the princess demonstrated her eerie ability to phase through walls and evade physical contact, the Xuanwu Bureau Chief personally extended an olive branch to Xia Feng, inviting him to join the Holy Ministry.
Xia Feng agreed without hesitation.
The Holy Ministry didn't press further about the princess's other abilities. The Xuanwu Bureau Chief merely asked, with polite interest, what position she might desire within their ranks.
Xia Feng, however, had a specific request: a "normal" role that offered a high salary without requiring attendance or obedience to orders.
The Xuanwu Bureau Chief praised his free-spirited, unconventional thinking, declaring that he would undoubtedly become an outstanding Imperial Spiritual Master after graduation. Then, to Xia Feng's satisfaction, he approved the "reasonable" demand.
And so, Xia Feng—still a freshman—became an official employee.
Tap tap tap—
The sound of slippers pattering down the stairs echoed through the hall, followed by Mushroom's cheerful cry: "Xia Feng, you're here!"
All eyes turned upward to see a girl with light green curls, clad in bear-print pajamas, bounding down the steps.
But as she reached the second-floor railing and looked down into the hall, her joyful expression froze. Her pupils dilated slightly.
The princess's slender arm was looped casually through Xia Feng's, her body pressed close against his. The picture they made was one of effortless harmony—a graceful, alluring woman beside a handsome young man.
The sight struck the girl like a physical blow. Her gaze hardened, eyes icing over as she glared daggers at Xia Feng.
"Hmph!"
With a sharp sniff, she whirled around and stormed back upstairs, teeth gritted as she muttered, "I treat you as a brother, but you want to be my father?"
BANG!
A door slammed violently. Xia Feng, unfazed, turned to the staff and ordered calmly, "You're all dismissed."
"Yes, sir." The maids and butler bowed in unison.
The princess, however, kept her eyes fixed on the upper floor. She blinked, then moved toward the staircase.
"Where are you going?" Xia Feng asked.
"To see my daughter."
"You really do treat Mushroom like a daughter," Xia Feng said, exasperated. He caught her arm. "Leave 'your daughter' for later. Right now, you're coming with me somewhere."
The princess tilted her head. "Huh?"
Her abilities required vast reserves of evil energy to function. Xia Feng planned to take her into the Evil Dragon Space to test and verify a few ideas.
(End of this chapter)